THERE was simply no stopping Meralco in this one.
The Bolts denied the TNT Triple Giga a back-to-back grand slam triumph after ruling the last grand finals of the PBA 3×3 Third Conference Season 3, scoring a dramatic 21-17 win late last Monday night at the Ayala Malls Glorietta.
Joseph Sedurifa forged an unlikely partnership with JJ Manlangit as the two made up for 15 of Meralco’s total output to frustrate TNT from pulling off another historic feat.
Sedurifa finished with eight points, while Manlangit added seven markers as he stepped up for the cold-shooting stint of guard Jeff Manday, who was held to a solitary point on 1-of-7 tries.
After TNT forged the game’s final deadlock at 15-all, Sedurifa and Manlangit went to work and uncorked a finishing 6-2 run to take the fight out of the Triple Giga and pocket the grand prize of P750, 000.
Alfred Batino, the longest tenured player in the Meralco lineup, contributed five points in Meralco’s first ever grand finals title in the history of the fledgling 3×3 meet.
“Sobrang tagal na namin sa PBA 3×3, first time namin na-experience ito,” said Batino, the veteran big man of coach Patrick Fran. Meralco beat TNT in two of three Leg final encounters this season, but this one was truly the most gratifying.
Despite emerging as the top seeded team at the end of the six-leg phase, the Bolts remained underdogs especially against a TNT side that has won the last six conference grand finals starting in the Third Conference of Season 1 and a sweep of the entire Season 2 last year.
Meralco even appeared ready to go in the semifinals when it trailed Blackwater 17-20 only for Sedurifa to will the Bolts back and win it 21-20 behind four straight baskets to end the game.
“Si Lord ang may gawa nito, hindi kami,” said Sedurifa. “Destiny siguro ito sa amin para manalo.”
